AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’ve just hung up from her when the phone rings again, and Dylan’s name appears on the screen. I don’t think I’ve used this thing for actual calls this much in my life, so I take a deep breath before answering.
“Dylan?” I question, a little confused since we’ve never spoken on the phone.
“Hey, Loge. How are you holding up?”
I release a sigh and silently chuckle to myself. Of course, Summer told him to call me, maybe thinking I’d give him a different response.
He repeats my name when I don’t answer, concern rife in his tone. I quickly tell him I’m okay, even though it’s a lie, and wait for the outpouring of sympathy. But that’s not what he does.
“I’m sorry, man,” he states plainly. “It’s so fucked-up.”
I huff out a laugh because that’s the best response anyone could give me right now.
“It really is fucked-up, and I have no idea where to go from here.”
My honesty surprises me, but then again, over the past few months, Dylan and I have grown closer, and if Summer trusts him with all that she is, so do I, by default.
“I hope you don’t mind, but Summer mentioned a bit about what’s going on.”
I laugh again. “Yeah, it’s okay, man. She told me from day one that she’d continue to keep my deep dark secrets from everyone except you. She couldn’t guarantee that. And I get it. Well, actually, I don’t because I’ve never had what you two have. But there was a time when my parents shared everything. At least, I thought they did, but…fuck. Like you said, it’s so fucked-up.”
“Don’t do that, Logan. Don’t let the guilt manifest.”
Huh? How does he…oh, shit.Wow, a lot of my friends have lost their fathers.
“It’s really hard to switch it off.”
“I know. Trust me, I know. It almost ruined me, Logan. And you can’t do a damn thing to change what happened, no matter how hard you try. Your dad wouldn’t want you feeling guilty.”
He’s right. So was Dani. But it’s not that easy.
“My problem was that I never spoke about it,” Dylan continues. “To anyone. And it ate away at me. If you want to talk about it, I’m here. So are Summer, and Lucy, and Joel. We all are. But maybe Joel’s the best person. I don’t know, but please, just talk to someone. Don’t keep it bottled up.”
I swallow a lump in my throat and take his advice on board, but I’m not ready yet. “Thanks, Dyl. I appreciate the call.”
“Anytime. And please give that girl of mine a gentle reminder that it’s her turn to cook dinner tonight. I’m flying in around five, and she’s likely to conveniently forget until it’s time for us to eat.”
I laugh out loud at that. While Summer can cook, she doesn’t love doing it all the time and hates that Dylan’s on such a strict diet even during off-season. She complains about it regularly.
“Oh, I will. I’ll take great pleasure in reminding her.”
Dylan laughs. “Thanks, man. Take care, alright? Let’s catch up in the next few days.”
“Sounds good. Thanks.”
When I hang up, I think about his words and know that he’s right. Only he didn’t list the two people I really wantand needto talk to—Dani and Mom.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Logan
SummerandIhangout all day, discussing many topics, including my dad, but it’s not until she’s due to leave that I finally blurt out the other thing that’s been on my mind.
“I slept with Dani.”
Summer freezes with her hand midair, having just reached for her phone on the counter. When she recovers, a smile lights up her face.
“That’s good, right? You like her, so…” She waves her hand around, trying to coax more information from me.
